New Delhi, May 15 :
The Border Security Force (BSF) constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was handed over to India by the Pakistani rangers on Wednesday after 21 days of captivity, will undergo a full body check-up and medical test, followed by a counselling and ‘debriefing’ session.
“Yes, health checkup and debriefing are a normal procedure. Concerned officials will ask him (Purnam) questions over what happened during his captive time,” said a senior official aware of the matter to ETV Bharat.
Purnam will be asked “relevant questions” by the BSF officials about his 21-day detention by the Pakistani rangers. Once he completes the procedure, Purnam may also go on leave to his home for a few days before he resumes duty, the official stated. At around 10:30 a.m., Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw was taken back from Pakistan by BSF at Attari-Wagah border.
“Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan territory, while on operational duty in the area of Ferozepur sector on April 23, 2025, around 1150 hrs and was detained by Pakistan rangers,” the BSF said. However, with the consistent efforts of BSF through regular flag meetings with Pakistan rangers and through other communication channels, the repatriation of BSF constables has become possible, the BSF said.
When bearded Shaw returned to India, he was found wearing a dark green round-neck T-shirt and ruffled hair.
Health checkups and debriefings are routine procedures
Talking to ETV Bharat on the development, SS Kothiyal, inspector general of BSF (retd), said that health checkup and debriefing of a soldier who returns back from the captivity of an enemy country is a routine procedure.
“On many occasions, along with the concerned department, officials from the other intelligence agencies also join in the debriefing,” said Kothiyal. As he was taken into Pakistani captivity during “a war-like” situation, officials from the intelligence bureau can also join during the debriefing of Purnam, said Kothiyal.
Purnam’s detention
Purnam, a constable of the 24th BSF battalion of BSF, was apprehended by the Pakistan Rangers a day after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 people were killed. The jawan was part of the ‘Kisan Guard’ that was deployed for the protection of Indian farmers, who till their land ahead of the fence.
Purnam apparently “mis-calculated” the alignment of the international border (IB) and stepped to rest under a nearby tree, from where he was apprehended by the Pakistani rangers.
Ever since Purnam, a resident of Rishra from West Bengal’s Hooghly district, was apprehended by Pakistani rangers, his wife has been speaking to BSF officials seeking his whereabouts and his early release. The situation became more tense as Purnam was detained amid India’s military offensive against a Pakistan-backed terrorist organisation.
Similar incident during air strike in Balakot
A similar incident happened when Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was detained by the Pakistani army following an air combat between the Indian Air Force and the Pakistani Air Force on February 27, 2019.
Following an aerial combat between the two countries, the Indian Force Pilot was captured. His MiG -21 Bison fighter plane was shot down when he was chasing Pakistani jets in Jammu and Kashmir and crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He ejected safely and was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army.
However, Abhinandan was released two days later by Pakistan amid global pressure.
The IAF pilot was reportedly subjected to a lot of mental harassment by Pakistan military authorities.
India’s Balakot strike
Indian armed forces carried out a strategic strike on the terror camps located in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir’s (PoK) Balakot on February 26, 2019 after a suicide bombing attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group. At least 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives in that terror attack.
